Arts and Entertainment week of Feb. 2

Events:

Ongoing

• Art Works in Soldotna has photography by Joe Kashi and Rachel Lee on display through February.
• The Funky Monkey in Kenai has artwork by Laura Faeo on display through February with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday.
• The Gary L. Freeburg Gallery at Kenai Peninsula College will have “Leader of the Pack,” an exhibition of paintings by New York artist al baio , on display Sunday through March 4, with an opening reception from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Baio won the Boit Award for painting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
• Kaladi Brothers on Kobuk Street in Soldotna has artwork by Timothy S. Dahl on display through February with a reception from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday.
• Kaladi Brothers on the Sterling Highway in Soldotna has artwork by Scott and Renee Davis through February with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday.
• The Kenai Fine Arts Center in Old Town Kenai has artwork by Clayton and Juanita Hillhouse on display through February.
• The Soldotna Senior Center is looking for artists to display their work in the center's lobby. Shows are one month long. Artwork must hang on the walls. Call Mary Lane at 262-8839.
• Today
• The film, “The Secret Life of Bees” will be shown at 6 p.m. with a light meal served at 5:30 p.m. at the Kenai River Center. Admission is free and donations are accepted for the LeeShore Center. To reserve a spot, call 260-7722.
• Seamus Kennedy will perform at 8 p.m. at The Crossing in Soldotna. Tickets are $20, available from Sweeney’s.

First Thursday

• First Thursday events today include an opening reception for Timothy S. Dahl from 5 to 6 p.m. at Kaladi Brothers on Kobuk Street in Soldotna, a reception for Scott and Renee Davis from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kaladi Brothers on the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, a reception for Clayton and Juanita Hillhouse from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kenai Fine Arts Center, a reception for Laura Faeo from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Funky Monkey in Kenai, and a bluegrass jam at 6:30 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna.
• The Central Peninsula Writers Group meets at 6 p.m. in the conference room at Kenai Community Library. It’s open to the public. Bring extra copies of your work to share.

Friday

• Entries are due by 5 p.m. for the Central Peninsula Writers Group’s 12th annual Central Peninsula Writers Presentation on March 14 at Triumvirate Theatre in the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna. Adult and high school writers from Cooper Landing to Ninilchik to Nikiski may enter. Entry forms and guidelines are available at the Kenai Community Library and online at kenailibrary.org under the Writer Group link.
• The Alaska Oceans Film Festival will be shown as an installment of the Kenai Watershed Forum’s Winter Speaker Series at 7 p.m. at the Kenai River Center on Funny River Road. The festival involves films that celebrate Alaska’s ocean bounty, including short films on saltwater adventures, coastal cultures and marine science from Alaska and around the world. “Red Gold,” focusing on the proposed Pebble Mine, will be shown, along with shorter films covering a variety of subjects, from polar bears to lifeguards in Hawaii. It is free and refreshments will be served.

Saturday

• The13th annual Winter Wine Tasting and Auction will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Kenai Senior Center, with gourmet appetizers and specialty wines, silent and live auctions and a variety of instant purchases and raffle chances. Contact Marquitta Andrus for more information at hospice@acsalaska.net or 262-0453.

Sunday

• A family board game event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Kenai Community Library. Bring games to share, or play one the many available games. Call 283-4378.

Coming up

• The Sitka Summer Music Festival musicians will perform at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna. Tickets are $15, or $5 for students, available at the door and Northcountry Fair, River City Books and Sweeney's in Soldotna, and Already Read Books and the Funky Monkey in Kenai.
• A high school dance and activity night, including a DJ, karaoke, Halo 3 competitions and unlimited laser tag, will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight Feb. 13 at Hawks Games in Soldotna. Call 260-9750 for more information.
• Peninsula Artists in Motion’s annual Winter Ball fundraiser will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Kenai Senior Center. It’s a black tie optional event with a catered menu, ballroom dancing with live music by Rob Ramponi's Alaska Swing Co., wine tasting by Bear Creek Winery of Homer, beer tasting by Kassik's Brewery and a silent auction. Contact Katrina Carpenter at peninsulaartistsinmotion@hotmail.com or 283-3140.
• Central Peninsula Hospital is seeking artwork in a variety of mediums to display in its new addition. Artists in Southcentral Alaska are invited to apply. The deadline for submissions is March 9. For information about the program, contact Leah Goodwin with Aesthetics, Inc. at 619-683-7500, or Goodwin@aesthetics.net, or visit http://kenaiphotography.com/CallForArtists.htm.
• Kenai Peninsula College’s Kenai River Campus is requesting proposals from artists interested in creating work to be placed in its new Riverview Commons by 5 p.m. March 13. The installation will be complete by Aug. 17. Proposals must include a conceptual sketch including notes, up to 10 slides of past work, a resume and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Submit proposals to Phillip Miller, Kenai Peninsula College, Facilities and Maintenance, 156 College Road, Soldotna, Alaska 99669. Miller can be reached at 262-0325 for more information.

Nightlife:

DJ

• Friday and Saturday nights at The Riverside.

Live music

• Hooligan’s Saloon in Soldotna has open mic night Thursday and 9-Spine on Friday and Saturday nights.
• The Maverick in Soldotna has the Free Beer Band on Wednesdays and Sundays.
• Moosequito’s in Sterling has open mic night Wednesday.
• The Place in Nikiski has bluegrass by Them Other Shuckers on Friday nights.
• The Rainbow Bar in Kenai has live music by Tuff-e-Nuff at 10 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
• Veronica’s in Kenai has music by Robb Justice and Dan Pascucci from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Karaoke

• The Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has a karaoke contest every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. through Tuesday with a $500 prize.
• 9 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the .406 in Kenai.
• 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Hooligan’s in Soldotna.
• 9 p.m. Friday at J-Bar-B outside Soldotna.
• 9:30 p.m. Monday at the Maverick in Soldotna.

Events

• The J-Bar-B has a cash drawing at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays. Patrons get one ticket each day they’re at the bar. Must be present to win.
• Hooligan's in Soldotna has Texas Hold ‘Em poker at 5 and 8 p.m. Tuesdays and free pool Thursdays.
• The Maverick in Soldotna has a pool tournament at 8 p.m. Fridays.
• Moosequito’s in Sterling has darts on Tuesdays.